Both the Lady Bears and the University of Northern Iowa Panthers came to play at the teams’ matchup game, but MSU was able to hold a steady lead and take a 62-52 victory.

The Lady Bears (7-8) and the Panthers (6-9), started with a 6-8 record and a 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference record, but the MSU had a defensive edge on UNI, taking another conference game win.

Senior Lady Bear Aubrey Buckley started the first quarter, hitting the first shot of the game with a jumper. After a second jumper from junior Danielle Gitzen, Buckley landed two free throws and another jumper.

MSU logo(Photo: Courtesy photo)

MSU’s head coach Kellie Harper said she thought Buckley set the tone for the team.

“I thought she came out to start this game and really showed a great effort, great strength physically, aggressiveness, and I thought that gave our team confidence on how we needed to play,” she said.

The Lady Bears continued in a trail of fire while holding their defense, only allowing UNI to score one jumper, one three-pointer and two free throws. MSU sunk shot after shot, fighting for a lead of 18-7.

In the second half, the Panthers snagged 15 rebounds to the Lady Bears' 11, and MSU took five steals to UNI’s two. The Lady Bears blocked the Panthers from scoring until there was 2:17 left on the clock, when UNI’s Nicole Kroeger scored a three-pointer for the Panthers. MSU was able to retain a 27-15 lead at the half.

A high scoring match ensued in the third quarter, with UNI outshooting MSU, 21-16. The Panthers hit the Lady Bears from inside the paint and at the three-point line, but MSU answered and continued to dominate the third quarter at 43-36.

Danielle Gitzen(Photo: MSU Photographic Services)

During the fourth, the teams were even inside the paint, but MSU gained free throw shots from Liza Fruendt, Brice Callip, Gitzen and a three-pointer from sophomore Lee Ann Polowy to take a 10-point win.

Buckley said MSU took their loss Friday as a learning experience for Sunday's game.

“Defense was a really big key for us,” she said. “I think it’s always on our agenda. But today, after Friday’s game, we realized we could not get worked anymore and just, that was our goal today, and I think we did that really well.”

Though it wasn’t the prettiest game, Harper said, she was still proud of the team’s defensive effort.

“I thought we had some good growth out there as a team today,” she said.

The Lady Bears next face off against conference rival Illinois State (6-8, 0-3) at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 12 in Normal, Illinois.